Supplies of compatible printer cartridges in the US are reported to be tightening, with prices expected to rise by up to 15% on top of new tariffs.
A senior figure in the US print supplies sector told The Recycler that inventory levels of compatible cartridges are currently low across the market. Some shipments are now being rerouted away from the US, reducing availability further.
The situation is expected to drive price increases of between 10% and 15%, in addition to the latest US import tariffs.
Earlier this month, the US government raised tariffs on a wide range of Chinese goods, including printer cartridges and components. Cartridges imported from China now face duties of between 125% and 145%, sharply increasing the landed cost of these products. The new rates build on Section 301 tariffs that have been in place since 2018.
At a 24 April meeting of the Los Angeles Board of Harbour Commissioners, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Eugene Seroka confirmed that container volumes are falling. “We are now beginning to see the flow of cargo to the Port of Los Angeles slow,” Seroka said. “Shipments last week were down 10% compared with the same period one year earlier. It’s my prediction that in two weeks’ time, arrivals will drop by 35%.”
According to US media reports, imports from China have dropped sharply in recent weeks following the tariff hikes. CBS News reported a “steep decline” in shipments, with one logistics company noting that container bookings from China to the US had fallen by as much as 60%.
The same senior source said there is growing speculation that Amazon may withdraw from selling compatible printer consumables in the US altogether. This follows ongoing takedown notices issued by Canon, which have led Amazon to delist certain cartridge products in Europe. A similar pattern may now be emerging in the US.
The disruption is part of a wider logistics crunch. Industry analysts report that logistics professionals are facing “trade uncertainties, canal closures and highly volatile rates”, with rising pressure to manage costs across increasingly complex supply chains. New digital freight tools may help large importers adapt, but for many in the printer supplies trade, shifting routes and rising charges remain a daily headache.
Remanufactured cartridges produced in the US remain tariff-free, apart from any imported components used in production. However, US remanufacturers operating plants in Mexico are subject to a 25% tariff, which applies under current rules despite USMCA exemptions.
The US remains one of the largest markets for printer consumables globally. Any reduction in supply or retail availability could lead to increased prices and greater demand for tariff-free remanufactured products — at least for now. But in a fluid situation like this, things could change faster than a firmware update on a Friday afternoon.
